Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My heart goes to Officer Raetz Family at this time. God Bless.

Senior Constable Jamie VEA VEA
Public Safety Response Team
Queensland Police Service
Australia

Senior Constable Jamie VEA VEA
Queensland Police Service, Australia

May 19, 2013

Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy

S. I. Drake, Lt (Ret)
Indianapolis Police

May 19, 2013

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of this brave officer. Rest in Peace.

Sheriff Ray Foster
Buchanan County Sheriffs Office

May 19, 2013

Rest in peace, Officer Raetz. Thank you for your dedication and service to our country and to your community. Your ultimate sacrifice and that of your family will not be forgotten. Prayers for your family, friends, Phoenix PD and many law enforcement brothers & sisters. Godspeed and God Bless, Hero.

Kathy B
Grateful Citizen

May 19, 2013

God bless you and your family Officer Raetz. Thank you for your service. ~Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

L. Rubio
Phoenix Police Department-Mom

May 19, 2013

Rest In Peace Brother. Know your fellow officers will continue on with the watch and will not stop till they find your killer. Thank you for your service to this great Country in the Armed Forces. My condolences to your Family and the Phoenix PD.

Sgt Fred Nordt
Lake Success PD, Long Island, NY

May 19, 2013

Rest in Peace Officer Raetz, Bless your family and the Phoenix Police Department.

TFC Widener, Len
Connecticut State Police

May 19, 2013

may you be at Peace my brother in blue

patrolman Wm/ Wagner
formally Detroit p.d.

May 19, 2013

Rest with the Angels Hero. Prayers for your family during this time in their lives. Pray the coward who did this is brought to justice. Your dedication, devotion, and ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Retired Police Officer Bob Lester
Midland, Texas Police Department

May 19, 2013

Daryl, we miss you brother. You will never be forgotten. Heaven has another Angel looking over us. We will look over your family and see you again. RIP

Ofc. Sandoval
Phoenix Police Dept.

May 19, 2013

Rest in peace, Brother. Your earthly duty is done. You will not be forgotten.

Capt. Edward Lujan, Jr. (Retired)
Denver Police Department Denver CO

May 19, 2013

To the Raetz Family - Our hearts break for the shock and pain you are forced to endure. You will be be held especially close in my prayers. May you find comfort from The Lord and our wonderful law enforcement family.

To Officer Raetz - Thank you for being a warrior! God rest your precious soul...

Resectfully,

Brigitte Targosz
Wife of Fallen Gilbert Officer Rob Targosz E.O.W 4/30/06

May 19, 2013

R.I.P. BROTHER Raetz!!!

Nebraska Police Officer

May 19, 2013

This poem was written after getting my wife’s 19 years perspective of being a police officer’s wife.


“He Does it For You!”

He doesn’t do it for the money,
Cause surely there’s something better to do,
He says, “Someone has to do it!”
So really, he does it for you.

His eight to twelve hours is from call to call,
From a murder to a cat in a tree,
You say he’s never around when you really need him,
But without him, where would you be?

You curse him when you get a speeding ticket,
And scream there’s something better he could do,
But have you looked at how many deaths there are on the highways,
So really, he’s doing it for you.

He’s always seeing so much bad in the world,
He really doesn’t know what to do,
He wonders sometimes if it’s even worth it,
But he knows he has to do it for you.

Each day when he leaves for work,
And I always kiss him good-bye,
I don’t know if I’ll see him again,
Cause the day might be the day he dies.

So many times he comes home from work,
And I see a small tear in his eyes,
I ask him what is the problem dear?
And he says another innocent person has died.

You always say a cop isn’t human,
Cause at a tragedy he’s cool from the start,
But you don’t have to live with him,
And watch his mind and heart break apart.

I remember one hot June night at work,
His supervisor came, “Your husband’s been hurt!”, he said,
It was such a long ride to the hospital,
They wouldn’t say if he was alive or dead.

Crime is always on the increase,
The streets a battle ground,
And when one in “Blue” is slain,
At the funeral-taps will sound.

He’ll lay in a flagged draped coffin,
An honor for those who die for this land,
Just like the Army, Navy and Marines,
He died by the enemies hands.

Most ordinary citizens won’t be at the funeral,
But you’ll see plenty of people wearing blue,
You’ll see dozens of marked patrol cars,
Honoring the one who died for you.


Written by David L Bell Copyright © 1991
Retired Deputy Sheriff after over 38 years
Richland County Sheriff’s Dept
Columbia, SC

Investigator David L Bell (Retired)
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

May 19, 2013

Honor of your Sacrifice and for your family and friends, I salute you as a HERO! May God
Give the family and friends the strength and faith to deal with this tragic loss. Words can not express my sorrow!

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell

Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

This may be re-posted in the Honor of his death and the death of any Law Enforcement Officer!

Investigator David L Bell (Retired)
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

May 19, 2013

My prayers and thoughts to the family. Godspeed brother.

Officer Nicole DeLuca
Chicago Police Department

May 19, 2013

10-42 my brother

Master trooper m.c.huffstetler
N.C. HIGHWAY PATROL,RET.

May 19, 2013

RIP Officer Raetz Thank you for your service

Retired Officer James "Speedy" Harkins
Hiawassee Police Dept.Georgia

May 19, 2013

10-42 my brother.

Master trooper m.c.huffstetler
N.C. HIGHWAY PATROL,RET.

May 19, 2013

FALLEN HEROES - From the time I was conceived God had for me a plan
He wanted me to get involved to help my fellow man
I know some were against it but God knows what is best
Now I'm safely home with him and have perfect peace and rest
Heaven is so beautiful I'm walking streets of gold
Now I'm serving others along with the saints of old
I know some still have anger about the way I died
But God sees and bottles every tear you've cried
As difficult as it may be please don't hold a grudge
Remember this my loved ones God alone will judge
God has given every soul a special job to do
My job my dear family is watching over you
Please don't be sad and mourn for me I'm doing what I love
Serving God and guarding you from heaven up above

Joye Atkinson

May 19, 2013

Our deepest sympathy to the dear family, friends and co-workers at PPD. God Bless him for his service and sacrifice he made to keep others safe. Rest in Peace sir, you will not be forgotten. Thank you for your service to our Country.

Sgt. Jim May (ret)
CMPD Charlotte, NC

May 19, 2013

God bless the family, fellow officers and friends with peace. RIP good and faithful servant.

Chaplain Bill Roscoe
Canyon Co. Sheriffs Office, Idaho

May 19, 2013

Off Raetz, you are a true hero. May you rest in peace our brother.

Sgt Richard Eckert
Town of Chester Police Dept

May 19, 2013

Rest in Peace Officer Raetz. Thank you for your service. My thoughts and prayers are with the Raetz and the Phoenix PD.

Cpl. Gary Hughes
Passaic County Sheriff's Office Paterson, NJ.

May 19, 2013

Rest in Peace sir. Gone but never forgotten. GODSPEED!

Aaron P. Sparks
Newbury Police Department NH

May 19, 2013